So you’ve decided to skip overpriced cocktail lounges and bring the bar home. Good call. But as you start browsing premium bitters and $80 Japanese jiggers, that budget-friendly dream begins to feel more like a luxury renovation. Here’s the truth: you don’t need a fancy cart or a liquor cabinet that rivals a hotel minibar. You just need a few smart choices — and maybe a cashback trick or two.

Let’s talk about how to build a solid, practical home bar for under $50 without compromising on taste or style.

Start with your base spirits. You don’t need five. You need one or two versatile bottles that work across multiple drinks. A decent vodka or white rum is a great starting point — both play nicely in classics like a mule, daiquiri, or even a simple soda mix. You can find solid options like New Amsterdam Vodka or Cruzan Rum for around $12–15 per bottle. Stick with 750ml — you’re building, not stocking.

Next: citrus. Lemon and lime juice are essential. Sure, you can buy pre-bottled mixers, but fresh juice wins every time — and a couple of lemons or limes won’t push your budget. Pro tip: refrigerate the leftovers and freeze the zest for later use.

Now, the sweet stuff. Simple syrup is exactly what it sounds like — sugar and water — and there’s no need to buy it pre-made. A 1:1 mix boiled at home costs literal pennies. Add a teaspoon of vanilla or a sprig of rosemary and you’ve got a craft cocktail vibe for less than $1.

As for mixers, keep it basic and multipurpose: club soda, tonic water, and maybe a ginger beer or cola. You can usually grab a few cans for under $5 total. These stretch your spirits into full drinks and let you offer options without needing a dozen ingredients.

Now comes the secret weapon: use Fluz gift cards to get instant cashback on these essentials. If you’re shopping at stores like Target, CVS, or Walmart, just open Fluz, buy a digital gift card for the amount you plan to spend, and use it at checkout. Not only do you pay the same amount you were going to spend anyway, but you also get a few bucks back — which you can use toward restocking or upgrading next time.

On the gear side, don’t splurge yet. Use a Mason jar or a clean water bottle as a shaker. A shot glass can double as a jigger. No fancy strainer? The lid of your improvised shaker will work fine. You’re not competing with the staff at Death & Co — you’re making solid drinks at home for a fraction of the cost.

One solid bottle, citrus, sugar, soda, and a little ingenuity — that’s your $50 home bar. The key isn’t having everything. It’s knowing how to use what you’ve got. The drinks will be cold, the pours generous, and the vibe? Whatever you make it.